Burning the Alpha

CHAPTER SIX

I don't concern myself with mortals.

That's what I kept saying to myself as I paced around the mortal werewolf's office.

Mortals don't concern me. I bask in their fire, and I leave. I should leave.

I should have left, but curiosity got the best of me.

There was a computer on Shaun's desk. I know some stuff about computers. More importantly, computers know a lot of stuff, about a lot of things.

Werewolves must be fairly trusting creatures. I was just getting to the good stuff when someone knocked on the door.

"Luna?"
I scrambled to log off the computer and be standing away from it when the door opened. The poor mortal who had thrown her arms around me before poked her head into the room.

"Yes, hello." Perhaps I should have corrected her about using the term 'Luna', but I was more interested in trying not to look suspicious in that moment.

"Alpha Shaun has instructed me to make you feel welcome, and offer you some food, if you're hungry." She said, casting her eyes around the room instead of looking at my face.

"Yes, good." I answered. I had never tried 'food' before, and I couldn't help but wonder what it was like.

The mortal female led me down the hallway, towards what I assumed would be the kitchen.

"You wouldn't know it to look at him, but our poor Alpha has been having a hard time since the Starry Night pack killed his father." She said.

"Killed?" I asked. "As in, ended his existence...on purpose?"

She turned her head to look at me as she kept walking. "He warned me you were strange...but...I really don't know what to make of you..."

"You needn't make anything of me." I answered. "I won't be around for too long. I've just never met creatures like you before."

"'Creatures like us'?" She echoed. "But...you're the new Luna...your place is here, with us."

My place? This conversation was quickly getting away from me, it was time to nip this whole 'Luna' idea in the bud.

"Oh, no, I'm not your Luna. That's all been a misunderstanding. I'm sure we can sort it all out, soon enough." I responded.

"So...you rejected him?" She asked.

"Um..." I wasn't super sure, but I answered any way. "Yes."
"You said the words?" She pressed.

"What words?" I asked.

"You know..." She moved her hands in circular motions. "I - insert your name here - of...whatever your pack name is, reject you, Shaun McCallum, of the Solar Eclipse pack, as my mate."

"I have to say those exact words?" I asked.

"Well...we'd rather you didn't." She answered. "He's a good man. Why would you want to reject him?"

Oh, my fire. River. I'd forgotten about River.

"What time is it?" I asked. "Have you got the time?"

She pulled her phone out of her pocket to check. "Almost 8pm...why?"

Before I could answer, one of the children ran into the hallway and wrapped its arms around her leg.

"Aunty Vera," It said. "Jeremy pushed me over, and now there's dirt all over my dress."

"Well, that's not very nice, is it, little Anna?" The mortal called Aunty Vera answered, stroking the child's hair. "We'll have to have some stern words with him, won't we? And don't worry about your dress. I've got some tricks up my sleeve that will make it as good as new."

There was something about this interaction that struck me. I wasn't sure if it was the physical affection, the moment of kindness, and the obvious care Aunty Vera had for the child, little Anna, but I felt a twang in my inner fires. I would almost call it grief. A deep sadness. A longing. A loneliness.

Whatever it was, I didn't have time to ponder it. River's wrath awaited me. I didn't doubt that the longer I delayed, the worse it would be.

"Please give my..." I searched for the word, "apologies, to your Alpha. I'm actually quite late, so I need to go...but I'd like to see you again...maybe, one more time."

"Okay." Aunty Vera exhibited signs of confusion, but I didn't have time to explain further.

I had to get home to River.